Alexei Likhachev, Director General of the Russian state corporation Rosatom, stated that the loading of fuel into the reactor of Unit 1 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey and its commissioning are planned for this fall.
In an interview with Novosti, Likhachev noted that Rosatom plans to conduct the so-called "hot test" in July, which is the main stage of trial operation work before the start-up of the first unit of the Akkuyu plant.
According to Likhachev, if these tests confirm the reliability of the reactor system's equipment and devices under the operating conditions for which they are designed, "we will begin loading fuel and 'launching' the first unit in the fall."
The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is the first nuclear power plant to be built in Turkey. The project is being implemented by the Russian company Rosatom. The project includes 4 power units equipped with VVER-1200 reactors of the third generation+, of Russian design, with each unit having a capacity of 1200 megawatts.
A week ago, Likhachev announced the completion of all construction work for the first unit at the Akkuyu plant, while Akkuyu Nuclear Energy Company revealed earlier this month that experts had successfully carried out a "test" of loading fuel assemblies into the reactor body of the plant's first unit.
